Weft-replenishing loom



May 4, 1926. 1,583,447

E. A. CUNNI FF WEFT REPLENISHING Loon Filed Nov. 17 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 4, 1926.

aire, S A

EDWARD A. CUNNIFF, 0F FALL RIVER,

LANNING, .OF

TES? PATENT MASSACHUSETTS, Assrenon. TO .mians K.

FALL Riven, MASSACHUSETTS.

WEET-BEPLENISHING LOOM.

Application filed November 'Replenisliing Looms, of which the following is a specification 7 According to previous practice in this art feeler mechanism for detecting the approaching exhaustion of the filling has been used to cause either the stopping of'the. loom or the renewal of the filling supply for com tinuing the weaving and such mechanism has ordinarily included a feeler finger, located to enter the shuttle as it lies in the adjacent shuttle box and normally opposed to the forward movement of the cop or filling package in the shuttle by spring pressure. As the lay continues to carry the shuttle forward after contact of the shuttle-contained filling with the feeler, the feeler spring is compressed thus exerting increasing pressure against the yarn of the cop and often causing injury to the yarn. v

One of the objects of the present invention is to prevent such injury to the yarnby the feeler and to this end the invention consists in providing'mcans by which the pressure of the feeler against the shuttle-contained filling is relieved after the feeler has properly functioned and before the lay completes its heat, thus shortening the duration of press ing contact of the feeler against the yarn and avoiding the greatest degree of pressure when the maximum of spring tension is reached.

Another feature of the invention consists in the improved organization of a feeler mechanism capable of being used at the magazine or transfer end of the loom to cause a change or transfer of the filling on the same forward beat of the lay that do tects the exhaustion of the shuttle-contained filling to the stage requiringfilling replenishment, without obstructing the insertion of the new filling package. p

These and other features of improvement will be explained in this specification and will be defined in the claims hereto annexed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an end view showing the relations of the transfer mechanism, the filling magazine and j the feeler mechanism by 17, 1920. Serial No. 424,656..

which the transfer mechanismis controlled,

associated in coordinated relationship to act at a stage when the filling on-the shuttlecontained bobbin is not yet quite exhausted mechanism to act. U

Figure 2 is "a plan view showing the relation of the latch ofthe transfer mechanism to the filling mechanism which controls its action;

Figure 3 is a detailhview in elevation showing-the transfer controlling mechanism embracing the feeler in operativeposition to: cause the transfer mechanism to; act. Figure 4; is end elevation similar-to to the critical point requiring thetransfer Figure 1 but showing the transfer mechair ism and its controlling mechanism in the positions which they assume at the timethe transfer operation is completed. Figures 5 and 6 are detail plan views showing respectively the action of thefeeler when the shuttle is correctly positioned for receiving a new bobbin and when it is incorrectly positioned therefor. r In the: present instance the principles of this'invention are shown applied to that form of automatic loom in which there is employed a rotary magazine for carrying and positioning the full bobbins-for transfer to the shuttle combined with an automat ically controlled and operated transfer arm ordevice which acts at a'single operationto expel the emptied or nearly emptied bobbin from the underlying shuttle, while at the same time inserting a new bobbin filled with yarn that is pushed down from the magazine, although it -will be understood that some of the principlesof this invention are applicable to other types of magazine and weft replenishing means. c

According to previous commercial usage it has been the practice to locate the feeler at the opposite end from the filling "magazinc and the transfer mechanism so that eX- haustion of the active filling package when detected at one end led to a positioning of the transfer actuator or latch suitable to cause the actuator to become "operative'on the next succeeding forward beat of the lay. Although'it has'been proposed to mount the feeler adjacent to the transfer device and the magazine, there are certain diiiicultie's encountered in such proposed arrangements due partly'to the very short interval'allowed for the successive operations of detecting exhaustion, positioning the transfer actuating latch and inserting the new filling package, and partly to the necessity of making reliable and accurate provision for retracting the feeler out of the path of the new package of filling to be inserted. It has been proposed to retract the feeler in the shuttle by means of a rotating cam shaft with lever connections, but the loss of motion and liability to dis-arrangement under the continued shock and vibration of the operating loom forbids complete reliance upon such arrangements, and the present invention is intended to provide such a construction and arrangement as will secure certainty and precision of timing as well as complete reliability of action.

In the practice of the invention according to the form illustrated in the drawings I have shown the magazine 1 supplied with full bobbins of filling 2 and the coordinated transfer arm comprising the relatively long hammer arm 4: and the short power arm 5 comprising a lever of the first class fulcrumed on the stud 6 which is mounted on the forward portion of the loom frame 7, and in this case adjacent to the right hand end of the lay 3.

The arm 5 of the transfer lever or device is forked atits lower end to pivotally support the usual latch 8 made in two parts longitudinally adjustable according to usual practice having a rearwardly extending bunt 9 and also a cam surface 10 shown on its under side for a purpose presently to be described.

The lay 3 is of the usual or any suitable construction and carries the shuttle box composed of the forward fixed plate 11 and theusual rear pivoted plate or swell 12 which frictionally grips the shuttle 13 to hold it in place as the shuttle is driven into it on each alternate pick according to the usual practice. The lay also has the usual forwardly projecting bunt 14 arranged to engage the latch 8 in the course of the forward movement of the lay at the time the transfer is to be made so as to operate the hammer arm 4 through the forward movement of said latch to force the lowermost bobbin in the magazine into the underneath shuttle at the same time expelling the emptied or practically emptied bobbin from the shuttle through the opening 15 to get it out of the way.

Obviously the latch part of the transfer mechanism shown mustbe-so controlled as to position that it will remain inactive or inoperative to make the transfer so long as there is sufficient filling remaining on the shuttle-contained bobbin to continue the weaving operation. It must also act when the critical point of exhaustion of a filling has been reached to cause the transfer mechanism to'make the transfer of a full bobbin from the magazine to the shuttle uncle neath. By locating the mechanism controlling the transfer mechanism at the magazine end of the loom it is possible to so construct and arrange the mechanism as to prevent a transfer from being made even when the filling reaches the critical point of exhaustion if the shuttle be improperly positioned to receive a full bobbin which may often be the case either because of the rebound of the shuttle in its box or because of the wearing of the pad of the picker stick.

The feeler device actually shown herein as forming a part of the controlling mechanism is in part an old construction. It comprises a supporting bracket or frame 20 fixedly supported to an adjacent portion of the front frame of the loom provided with a runway or guiding recess in which is mounted a slide or plunger 21 projecting rearwardly and terminating in a feeler blade 22 which is intended to enter a window or opening in the front side of the shuttle box 11, and in the front side of the contained shuttle 13 so as to feel or contact with the yarn each time that the lay beats up or moves toward the front or breast beam of the loom. This feeler slide or finger 21, 22 is normally press-ed rearwardly to a fixed position by means of a compression spring 23 so as to permit the feeler to forwardly retract as soon as contact with the yarn on the shuttlecontained bobbin is established through the openings mentioned. So long as contact with the yarn on the shuttle-contained bobbin is established at each beat-up of the lay the feeler slide is pushed forward by the lay against the thrust of the spring without action on the part of the transfer mechanism according to the present organization of the apparatus because the bunt 9 of the latch-8 is beneath the path of the fixed bunt 14 carried by the lay. It is desired, however, that as soon as the filling at the base portion of the bobbin is reduced in diameter to the point nearly approaching exhaustion at which the substitution or transfer of a new bobbin should take place, the latch shall be moved into alignment with the bunt let to cause the hunt 14; to push the latch forward, which motion is transferred to the hammer 4 by the time the lay reaches the forward limit of its movement so that the overlying bobbin is pushed down into the shuttle in position to be engaged by the usual bobbin fingers or spring clamps carried inside the shuttle which grip and retain the new bobbin allowing the old one to be expelled by the downward thrust of the new one.

This movement of the latch is controlled by a so-called governor which embraces a finger 25 pivotally mounted in the feelerslide and provided with a hunt member which in this case consists of an adjustable screw 26 adjustably mounted in the offset to push forward the latch S and swing lie above the pivotal-center finger 25 so as to engaged by the front face in position to be of the shuttle above the window or opening which admits the feeler to the interior of the shuttle to feel the yarn. At its forward or free end the governor finger 25 is preferably notched as shown at when depressed an lnterlocking engagement with the knife edge of an arm 28 which is secured to a vertical rock-shaft 29 pivotally mounted in the feeler bracket so .as to cause said rock-shaft to turn on its axis-in clockwise direction. To the lower end of the point ofthe bunt 14. Obviously, thefurther forward movement of the lay serves the hammer 4 about its axis so as to transfer a full bobbin into the shuttle and at the same time eject the empty one. Theiscrew adjustmerit 26' is provided sothat the-difference in diametercaused by the removal of a very few windings of yarn from-the shuttle-conmined bobbin will allow the opposed face of tne'slmttle to'engage the governor bunt 26, and by its pressure as it advances cause the slight depression of the forward forked end 27 of the governor finger so thatit'engages or interlocks with the arm 28. As soon as the governor has engaged thearm 28 it is obvious that a s ight further forward move ment of the lay acting through the arm 28, the shaft '29 and stantly swing up the latch 8 with its bu'nt 9 slightly above the posltion lt of the lay.

The continued forward movement of the lay acting through the bunt engagement with the latch 8 causes the transfer arm orlhammer to act to make the transfer, the hammer, according to the-usual practice, being normally held out of operative position and restored thereto by means of a, coiled spring 6 I p v It will be clear that so'long as the diameter of yarn on the shuttle-contained bobbin is great enough so that the feeler is engaged and'pushed back by the yarn on the bobbin before the governor establishes operative contact with thefrontfaceof the shuttle box no transfer will take place. On the other hand, a sufficient reduction of the yarn winding on o the bobbin'at this point will allow the governor to, contact with the shuttle thereby moving the latch 8 into position to permititsengagementwith the' bunt l-il thus causing the transfer mechanism to operate. Upon consideration, however, it

27 so as to formwith a cam face3l ar the cam arm 30 will in will be clear that the rear end or, yarn-contacting portion 22 ofthe'feelerwillproject aconsiderable' distance into the shuttle before the governor can begin to function and that the feeler, when so projected, would prevent the proper insert-ion of the full bobbin into the shuttle which is a problem that does not arise when the feeler mechanism, as.

heretofore, has been placed at the opposite. end of the-lay to that where the transfer mechanism and magazine is located.

To overcome this difficulty I have provided special means for retracting: the feeler from the shuttle as the lay moves forf ward into its transfer position. The inecha nism herein shown i for that. purpose com: prises'a retracting finger 40 mounted upon any/suitable bracket or support al carried by theloom and projecting vertically into positiontobe engaged by a bunt 42 which is located onthe lay at a pointconsiderably nearer to the pivotal axis of the finger 40 than is the point near its free end wh'ichengages a suitable projection Cor strap 43 formedon the feeler mechanism; The positions of the retracting finger 40 and its actuating member or bunt 42 which is on the.

lay are so'correlated that operative, engage ment or'jcontact is established immediately after the lay has advanced on its beat-up movement to the point where the governor has functioned when the yarnis reduced to the critical point. Since, owing to the much longer radius, the arc of movement described by that part :of the retracting finger 40 which engages the feeler mechanism as at 4:3 is considerably,greater than the movement of the point of the retracting finger 4O engaged by the bunt 42, the upper or outer end of the fingerwill, as soon as it begins tooperate retractthe feeler mechanism in a forward direction, --move faster than the shuttle box moves with the result that the feeler finger is withdrawn-from the lay on each forward stroke after the lay passes a predetermined point.

The advantage of this retracting movement of the feeler mechanism is two-fold:

It serves not only to clear the path for the full bobbin to be inserted in the' shuttle when that is necessary, .butit also acts to relieve the pressure of the feelerfinger on the yarn during the normal operation of the loom when no transfer is made. It will be 7 obvious that" as the lay advances oneach forward beat-up the compression spring 23 which pushes the feeler slide rearwardly is compressed against an increasing pressure or resistance as the lay moves. forward, and this pressure oftentimes'results in injury to the yarn wound on the shuttlepontained I bobbin ,be-causeas this retracting finger acts to retract the ,feeler away from contact with the yarn shortly after such contact has been established will be obvious-that it must relieve the yarn from the pressure of the feeler finger when that'pressure becomes greatest and most objectionable.

Another feature of great practical impor-,

tance is the gauging correlation of the feeler opening or window of .the shuttle to the feeler finger itself. IIeretofore it has been the practice to make the feeler window of considerable extent to insure action, in-

'- asmuch as the feeler was located opposite the transfer or magazine end of the loom. If however, in such case, the shuttle comes to rest beneath the magazine but out of proper vertical alignment therewith when the transfer is :to be made the new bobbin may be improperly inserted so as to cause av smash .or tearing out of the warp shed on the return pick of the shuttle. To preventsuch improper insertion of the new bobbin in the underlying shuttle, the feeler window is so proportioned or gauged lengthwise of the shuttle as to afford only that amount of clearance on either side of the feeler that comes within the permissible toleration of variation in the longitudinal posit-ion of the shuttle in its box.

Referring now to Figure 5 it will be seen that the bobbin 2 has its three holding rings properly gripped in the three corresponding grooves of the clamping jaws 50, with the shuttle correctly positioned in the shuttle box. to align vertically with the overhead bobbin'in the magazine; Now suppose that the shuttle rebounds so as to lie somewhat further from the end ofthe lay than in Figure 5 as shown in Figure 6, so that at' most only the end ring of the bobbin is engaged by the clamping jaws 50, obviously the bobbin will be held less securely in posi- .tion than when two or three of its rings are interlocked with the grooves in said jaws. Indeed the last ring might entirely miss the outermost locking groove in which case the sagging of the free end of the bobbin below the shuttle would certainly cause a smash.

To prevent mishap such as this the window 52 in the side of the shuttle-is made, ac-

.binshould have reached the critical point of exhaustion indicative of the need for replenishment. In such case the weaving would continue until the complete exhaust-ion of the filling would cause a stoppage of the loom through the action of the weft fork in the usual way. Moreover such stoppage of the loom due to exhaustion of the filling instead of changing of the filling would automatically indicate to the loom fixer that the shuttle is not positioning 'properly'in its box and would lead to readjustment to secure proper functioning of the mechanism.

What we claim is:

1. .In an automatic loom, the combination of filling transfer mechanism, feeler mechanism located adjacent thereto on the loom frame to act directly upon the transfer mechanism to control its action according to the quantity of yarn remaining on the shuttle-contained bobbin, a feeler-retracting arm means carried by the lay in position to engage the feeler retracting arm so as to cause the feeler to be retracted more rapidly'than the lay advancesafter the feeler contacts with the yarn in order to relieve the yarn of the pressure of the feeler during the remainder of the forward movement of the lay, substantially as described.

2. In an automatic loom, the combination of filling transfer mechanism, feeler mechanism mounted on the 100m frame in direct proximity to the transfer mechanism and ineluding feeler finger arranged to contact with the yarn on the shuttle contained bobbin on each beat up of the lay that opposes the filling bobbin to the feeler,a pivoted retracting member, and means carried by the lay to engage said pivoted retracting member to cause it to retract the feeler in relation to the lay as soon as the feeler mechanism has properly functioned, substantially as described.

3. In an automatic loom, the combination of a filling transfer mechanism, controlling means therefor embracing a feeler mechanism arranged on the loom frame'to be engaged by the active filling package on the forward beats of the lay, a pivoted arm arranged to engage and retract the feel-er from the bobbin as the lay advances after the feeler mechanism has properly functioned, and a cooperating member located on the lay to engage said pivoted arm ata point nearer to its pivotal centre than its point of engagement with the feeler, to accelerate the retracting movement of the feeler in advance of the lay, substantially as described.

4. In an automatic loom, the combination with a transfer arm and its lay-actuated latch, of a feeler mechanism mounted on the loom frame adjacent thereto embracing a feeler slide arranged to enter the active shuttle and feel the filling therein, a governor coordinated with the slide to be shifted to operative position when the filling approaches exhaustion, a rockinglever having one arm arranged to engage and position the transfer latch for action and its other arm disposed to be actuated by the governer whereby the transfer of filling is effected on the same beat up of the lay that detects filling exhaustion, substantially as described.

5. In an automatic loom the combination with weft replenishingmechanism, of controlling mechanism therefor mounted on the loom frame adjacent thereto, and including a shuttle penetrating feeler and a governor by which the weft replenishing mechanism is rendered operative or inoperative according to the state of exhaustion of the active filling package, feeler retracting, means, a shuttle-carrying lay provided with upper and lower thrust members by which the transfer mechanismand the feeler retract ing mechanism respectively are actuatedto withdraw the feeler and replace the filling package therein on the same heat up of the lay that detects the filling exhaustion, substantially as described.

6. In an automatic loom thecombination with weft replenishing mechanism controlledas to operation by feeler mechanism arranged on the loom frame adjacent thereto and including a feeler positioned to enter the opposed shuttle on the forwardly moving lay tofeel the filling package therein, retracting means for withdrawing the feeler as soon as it has properly functioned, thrust members mounted on the'lay in position to actuate respectively the retracting means and the weft replenishing mechanism in ap propriate coordination to effect filling replenishment on the same beat of the lay that detects filling exhaustion, substantially as described.

7 In an automatic loom the combination with weft replenishing means, of feeler -mechanism mounted on the loom frame adjacent thereto acting directly to position the replenishing movements for operation, said feeler mechanism embracing a shuttle pene trating feeler and a shuttle engaging governor coordinated to secure the action or in action of the replenishing mechanism according to the size of the active filling package, a retracting member mounted on the loom frame toengage the feeler and withdraw it from the opposed shuttle after the feeler has been pushed back a predetermined distance by the forward movement of the lay, and a thrust member mounted on the lay to actuate the feeler retracting member to cause the feeler to move back more rapidly than the lay advances, substantially as described.

8. In an automatic loom the combination operative engagement .of the bunt with the weft replenishin mechanism, and thus renew the active filling supply on the same beat that detects filling exhaustion, and retracting means arranged to engage and retract the feeler in-advance of the lay after the lay has moved forward to a predetermined position, said retracting means including a thrust member mounted 'on the lay, substantially as described.

9. In an automatic loom the combination with weft transferring mechanism embracing an actuat-inglatch, movable into and out of the path of a cooperatingibunt on the lay,

a feeler mechanism mounted on the loom frame adjacent to said latch and embracing a shuttle-penetrating filling feeler and a relatively movable governor, an intermediate lever having one arm arranged to engage the underside of a portion of said latch to lift the latch when rocked, and having another arm disposed to be engaged androcked by said governor when exhaustion of the active filling package is detected, and means actuated by engagement with the advancing lay to retract the feeler from, the shuttle after filling exhaustion is detected, substantially as described. 1

10 In an automatic loom the combination with weft transfer mechanism, a feeler mechanism embracing a shuttle penetrating fill- 'ing feeler by which control is obtained over the operation of the transfer mechanism according to the stage of exhaustion of the active filling package, and means actuated by the forwardly moving lay to retract said feeler more rapidly than the lay advances after it has formed feeling contact with the yarn and thereby relieve the filling of undue pressure from the feeler in order to protect the filling package during the further advance of the lay, substantially as described.

In witness whereof, I have subscribed the above specification.

EDWARD A. OUNNIFF. 

